Expert: Michael O`Flaherty - 8/4/2004

Question
Hi Michael,

Recently I saw "The Passion of the Christ." I was born and raised a Catholic and my wife is Jewish. We have various discussions about Christianity. My wife is does not take the Bible in a literal way. She believes many things are taken out of context (like the "parting of the Red Sea, Noah's Arc-How can all the animal species fit on a boat?, etc.). She also questions why there aren't any female prophets that played a part in the writings of the Bible. She has read where parts of the Bible that included women in larger roles have been taken out. I've got 2 questions:

1. What is your opinion of "The Passion?" Is it truthful and would you allow your children to see it?

2. Why is just about everything that pertains to the writings of the Bible pertain to male prophets? In the Catholic faith, men are priests and women only nuns. It seems women don't play a role in religious writings. Does that mean, in God's eyes, they have a lower "ranking?" Thanks for your opinions.

Answer
Hi Dan!

Thank you for your post and you kind demeanor – it is refreshing!

(1) Actually, I am looking forward to seeing the Passion – it was never convenient for me to see it in the theatre – I have a 7-year old daughter and it was difficult to go since we felt she was too young (I have no problems with my 12-year old son seeing it – he wants to ever since he became a Christian and understands what Jesus went through.) Clearly the movie for most children is too gory – in this case I trust Christian parents to judge when it is appropriate to allow it for their children.

(2) I am not sure I agree. Check out these verses:

EX 15:19 When Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing…

JDG 4:4 Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.

2KI 22:14 Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Acbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to the prophetess Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District.

   2KI 22:15 She said to them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 'This is what the LORD says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and provoked me to anger by all the idols their hands have made, my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.' 18 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, 'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: 19 Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people, that they would become accursed and laid waste, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD. 20 Therefore I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.' "
   So they took her answer back to the king.

ISA 8:3 Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the LORD said to me, "Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.

LK 2:36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Notice that God uses prophetesses to do his will. I do agree that many times women are treated in a lower position in society, but that does not mean they are any lower in stature. Much of that is cultural, though I do believe what Paul states about the order of things:

1CO 11:3 Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

However, Paul is clear to point out that as husband and wife, this order of authority in no way diminishes how we are to behave towards each other – we are to love our spouses as Christ loved (and died) for the church. Many people take this out of context and turn it into a license to abuse women.

EPH 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- 30 for we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Regarding your wife's viewpoint, I have to admit, I have been learning a lot about Jewish culture and history lately. I am gaining a much better appreciation for the Old Testament, and it has done wonders in illuminating the New Testament for me. One thing I find fascinating is that we in the west tend to think of things in the Greek way – logical -- black and white. For example, we would say that God is all-powerful, all-seeing, etc. To most easterners (Jewish and Arabs), they tend to think in symbolism. For example, God is a rock; God is a stream, etc. I have been spending time learning from a Jewish scholar Ray Vander Laan that I think she might appreciate. If you are interested, I would be happy to put one of his sermons out on the net for you to check out. In fact, he did a great one on the movie Passion, so you might also enjoy that one. He also has a line of DVDs that are some of the best I have ever seen on Israel.

Let me know if you are interested and I will either put the MP3 out on the web or send you a CD if that is better. Regardless, I have enjoyed discussing these issues with you. Since I tend to ramble, if I didn't fully answer your question or you want to discuss this further, please let me know.

In Jesus Name!
Michael
www.oflaherty.com/mo.htm